Sonoma County hits 70% vax rate — but Covid rates still climbing
County of Sonoma health officials announced today that more than 70 percent of residents age 12 and older are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 — a figure higher than state and national percentages.
County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase and Vaccine Chief Dr. Urmila Shende told the Board of Supervisors during their COVID update today that another 8 percent of County residents have received a single dose of vaccine, meaning 78 percent of residents are either fully or partially vaccinated.
But the achievement comes as COVID-19 cases and related hospitalizations are at the highest rates since March. County health officials say this increase coincides with the arrival of the more contagious delta variant. According to Dr. Mase, 72 percent of those who have tested positive recently are under the age of 49, with the most impacted age group being those between the ages of 12 and 39.
Sonoma County’s six hospitals are seeing an average of more than 40 COVID patients a day. Of those, 83 percent are unvaccinated while 100 percent of those COVID patients in intensive care are people who are unvaccinated.
All told, as of July 26, 619,721 doses of vaccine have been administered in the County of Sonoma with 33,132 residents partially vaccinated and 301,923 residents fully vaccinated. While reaching 70 percent fully vaccinated is an encouraging milestone, “we plan to continue to encourage vaccinations until we get to a higher goal level of herd immunity,” Dr. Shende told the supervisors.
“The delta variant is playing a big part in this increase in cases, as we are seeing throughout the country and throughout the state,” said Dr. Mase. “It’s highly transmissible and now accounts for 83 percent of cases in the United States.”
She noted that it has been identified in 135 COVID-positive patients in Sonoma County and now represents the most dominant variant detected in the County. Those who are unvaccinated are particularly vulnerable to the delta variant and to the worst outcomes of the virus including hospitalization and death.
Since July 16, the Association of Bay Area Health Officials has recommended that all people, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks in public settings indoors, in response to increased circulation of COVID-19. County health officials also encourage unvaccinated residents to wear their masks, avoid gatherings, practice social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Household transmission and gatherings are the primary current contributors to transmission.
Sonoma County health officials, in partnership with hospitals, health centers and pharmacies, have operated or supported a network of vaccine clinics throughout the community with a focus on equity and underserved communities. The county’s vaccination campaign is designed to make it more convenient for people to get vaccinated, including through mobile clinics and events at schools.
The county continues to support three large vaccination clinics at the Roseland Library, the Jockey Club at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds and the Rohnert Park Community Center.
Walk-ups are accepted though residents may also make appointments here:
